Oil & Fuel Idling your diesel tractor

Deerlope · Sep 17, 2010

I don't know about tractors but I do know that according to the EPA it is illegal to let a diesel truck idle over 5 minutes.

SpudHauler · Sep 17, 2010

I don't know what country your in, but if I had a penny for every one that doesn't, I'd be rich.:laughing:

montelatici · Sep 17, 2010

I turn my tractors off and rarely let them idle.

A farmer friend of mine lets his many tractors idle all day and says it saves the starter and that starting uses more fuel anyway. He also says that the maximum wear on a diesel engine is during the start when the engine oil has not yet begun to circulate. More starts more wear.

He may be right with the amount of use he puts his tractors through. For me turning them off is quieter.

Transit · Sep 17, 2010

After reading about the pros and cons of Wet Stacking, the subject flies in the face of those that have problems with Overheating Engines and remove the thermostat to cool the engine. At high power settings with or without the T-stat wet stacking should not be a problem, however at low or idle power without T-stat, prolonged running may start building carbon and oily deposits.
The solutions look easy, be sure to have the correct T-stat temperature range and brush hogging will give the engine a good workout to burn out the deposits.

Motractr · Sep 17, 2010

I sure do love this forum. Very informative.

I have a 6 cyl. Deutz diesel that runs a backup pump I use in case of power outages or emergencies on the farm. I start it every few months without engaging the pump to keep the motor ready for action. With it's upright stack, it would form a smoky ooze that I attributed to a stuck or non seating valve. After reading these posts- it's probably wetstacking. I will be now loading the motor when running it.

Thanks to all for the info.

Don87 · Sep 17, 2010

DiezNutz said:
No, excessive idling is not a good idea for *any* Diesel engine.

Here's another term to Google: "diesel cylinder wash"

And if for no other reason, why burn expensive fuel you don't have to.

Or to think of it another way, is there any advantage gained by excessive idling? Any compelling reason to do it? No, and no.
So if it can't help, and it can possibly hurt, then why do it.

About 5 minutes while warming up or loading the bucket is OK. More than that and I shut mine off.

Just to be clear, by "idling" I'm specifically referring to a stationary tractor doing no work with the throttle in the lowest position. Any other condition may not be considered idling.

This is the part that most people don't understand. And this is also the part that will cause the most damage to the engine. If you are going to let it run.......bump the throttle up by 2 or 300 rpm, so that the 'excess' fuel is burned which will eliminate 'wet stacking', and........."crankcase dilution".
For those not familiar with that term..........it is unused fuel, seeping past the piston rings, going to the crankcase, diluting the oil..........causing premature wear to the main bearings, as well as crankshaft bearings, cylinder wear....and more.
So if idling more than a few minutes........bump the rpm's up a little.(as someone stated earlier).
By the way.........I'm a firm believer in letting a diesel run, if it's going to be about 15 or 20 minutes. More than that, I shut down.

Cat_Driver · Sep 17, 2010

Red Line Synthetic Oil - Diesel Fuel Additives - Diesel Fuel Catalyst

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foggy1111 · Sep 17, 2010

Ever notice that delivery drivers turn their engines off when they make a stop? I have been told that UPS believes starters are cheaper then fuel.

I don't mind a few minutes idle time myself....but any substantial time...and my tractor gets shut down. Also, when unattended, I don't have to worry about a busted hose or a fire, or some other nasty surprise.

aczlan · Sep 17, 2010

foggy1111 said:
Ever notice that delivery drivers turn their engines off when they make a stop? I have been told that UPS believes starters are cheaper then fuel.
I don't mind a few minutes idle time myself....but any substantial time...and my tractor gets shut down. Also, when unattended, I don't have to worry about a busted hose or a fire, or some other nasty surprise.

I would guess that the deal with UPS, Fedex, etc is as much about the liability of an running unattended truck loaded with others peoples packages as about the cost of fuel vs the cost of an engine or a started.

Aaron Z